Doodle for Google: North Allegheny student earns shot at national finals
Not only did Sophia Cuevas get selected as a state finalist for the 16th annual Doodle for Google contest, she also was surprised by her family at a special celebration at her school on May 22. That also happened to be her 11th birthday. Google selected Sophia, a Peebles Elementary...
Monroeville area: Plant sale, history speaker series, music camp, more
Email news briefs and event listings to pvarine@triblive.com or bpoole@triblive.com. Plant sale on June 2 The Garden Club of Monroeville will hold its annual plant sale from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 2. It will be in Pavilion 1 at Monroeville Community Park West, 2399 Tilbrook Road. Annuals, vegetables,...
Man pleads guilty to fatally stabbing stepfather on Mt. Washington
A schizophrenic man who was off his medication when he killed his stepfather and stabbed his brother in 2022 inside their Mt. Washington home pleaded guilty on Thursday to third-degree murder. Javon Taylor, 32, will be sentenced by Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Jill E. Rangos in several weeks. Taylor,...
Norwin area: Library to hold summer reading program
Library to hold summer reading program The summer reading program at the Norwin Public Library at Caruthers Lane in Irwin will open on June 10 with an art demonstration by local artist Bob Weaver and an opportunity for children to show their creativity with creating sidewalk art. The program will...
Gateway School Board proposes 1.2 mill tax increase
Gateway School District property owners will see a 1.2 mill tax increase if next school year’s budget is approved in its current form. School directors approved advertisement of the preliminary budget at their May 20 meeting. The final budget will be adopted June 17. Millage would raise from from 22.8507...
Kiski Area budget would see tax hike in Westmoreland, tax cut in Armstrong
Westmoreland County property owners in Kiski Area School District could see a tax hike next year, but those in Armstrong County could get a tax cut. A preliminary budget approved this week would raise the tax rate 6.8% in the district’s eight Westmoreland County communities while decreasing the rate 7.7%...
Local high school musicals highlighted by Gene Kelly Award nominations
Since 1991, the Gene Kelly Awards for Excellence in High School Musical Theater have recognized the hard work and passion of music educators and high school students throughout Allegheny County. This year’s nominees — in a variety of categories — were announced on May 8, and the awards will be...
Pickleball coming soon to Oakmont’s Riverside Park
Oakmont is hopping on the pickleball bandwagon. Council voted Monday, May 20, to award the contract for the Oakmont Borough Park Improvement project to Dun Rite Construction & Paving of Tarentum. The more than $251,000 project will take place at Riverside Park to help foster a community-friendly activity space. “I’d...
Riverview School District graduation set for June 6
Riverview School District’s 2024 commencement ceremony will begin at 7 p.m. June 6 at Riverside Park. The district has 50 students graduating this year. Outstanding Senior winners and scholarship recipients were recognized Wednesday night at the district’s annual Senior Honors and Athletic Awards night. In case of inclement weather, the...
5 things to do in Westmoreland this weekend: May 24-27
There’s something to entice all ages during this long weekend in Westmoreland County. Here are just a few of the happenings to keep everyone busy: Art on Tap: National
Scavenger Hunt The Westmoreland Museum of American Art, at 221 N. Main St. in Greensburg, will be full of mysteries Friday...
Fort Ligonier to host Prussian reenactors, offers free admission for military families
A Prussian invasion is anticipated this weekend at Fort Ligonier. Reenactors portraying Prussian soldiers who engaged in combat during the mid 18th century will take up residence for a historical military encampment Saturday and Sunday at the reconstructed fort. Based in the Midwest, the infantry brigade will be on hand...
Part of Route 981 to close in Mt. Pleasant Township
Part of Route 981 in Mt. Pleasant Township will close starting Tuesday. The road, also known in that section as Mt. Pleasant Calumet Road will be closed from Waltons Lane to Boyer Road. The closure is anticipated to continue into mid-June depending on weather and operations, according to PennDOT. Drivers...
Cemetery operator laments lack of volunteers to place flags at Mon Valley Memorial Park
Operators of the Mon Valley Memorial Park Cemetery were unable to find enough volunteers to place flags Thursday at the gravesites of 2,000 veterans. The cemetery in Donora, Washington County, is one of 26 cemeteries in five states owned by Life Remembered. The director of administrative support at Life Remembered,...
Morning Roundup: Firefighter among 3 injured in Washington County house fire
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Thursday, May 23: 3 injured in Washington County house fire Three people, including a firefighter, were injured in a fire that destroyed a Washington County house early Thursday morning. The fire broke out around 12:20 a.m. at a house...
The Stroller, May 23, 2024: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your non-profit’s community events, fundraisers and club meetings for free in The Stroller. Send information at least two weeks in advance to vndnews@triblive.com or The Stroller, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number. Commemorative book planned by Leechburg Anniversary Committee The Leechburg 175th Anniversary...
Burrell merges athletic and facilities director positions, furloughs 1 as district assesses tax hike
In an effort to save money, Burrell School District officials have combined two administration jobs, creating a new position to oversee its athletics department and building operations. The school board on Tuesday appointed Brian Ferra as director of athletics and building operations. The district eliminated the facilities director position held...
Deer Lakes School Board eyeing 6.9% property tax increase
Deer Lakes School District residents likely will see a tax increase after the board approved a tentative $43.8 million budget. The plan calls for a 6.9% increase in property taxes, setting the rate at 24.25 mills, up from 22.69. It was approved Tuesday by a vote of 7-2, with board...
2 new officers join Monroeville police force
Two new police officers are on duty in Monroeville. Mayor Nick Gresock swore in Jason Dembiczak and Robert Wratcher, at the May 14 council meeting. Police Chief Doug Cole introduced the two officers, outlining their educational backgrounds and experience. He mentioned that Wratcher’s mother also had been a Monroeville police...
Forbes Road students take cybersecurity presentation to national business competition
This time last year, Forbes Road Career & Technology Center teacher George Karnbauer was keeping an eye on three of his students as they gave a cybersecurity presentation, making sure to jump in if he felt like something needed clarified or explained. Last month, Karnbauer sat in the audience as...
Gateway student project honors police officers
For Gateway High School’s Spring Impact Project, students of the Chick-fil-A Leader Academy wanted to show their appreciation to local police departments. “We want the officers to know that they are supported and appreciated,” said adviser Marci Klinger, adding that the students believe it’s their duty to give back to...
NEED awards scholarships, honors community members
The 61st annual Negro Emergency Education Drive scholarship awards dinner was held May 3 at the Wyndham Grand in downtown Pittsburgh. This year’s theme was “We Are Our Ancestors’ Wildest Dreams!” The Negro Emergency Education Drive, or NEED, was established in 1963. In addition to scholarships, the nonprofit college access...
Natural gas well fracking plans on hold in Indiana Township
A decision regarding a rezoning request in Indiana Township that could pave the way for new gas well construction won’t come for two months. The township’s planning commission voted 4-0 Wednesday night, May 22 before an overflow crowd to postpone its decision on a proposal
by Cranberry-based MPF Management for...
Experts encourage property reassessment at Allegheny County public hearing
Allegheny County could be on a collision course with a countywide property reassessment, and experts at a Wednesday public hearing encouraged the county to take that step. Several public school districts across Allegheny County have voiced support of a countywide reassessment, and Pittsburgh Public School district has actually sued to...
‘I was afraid of dying’: Trooper defends killing knife-wielding Washington County man
Pennsylvania State Trooper Chad Weaver said that in the moment before he shot Anthony Gallo 10 times with his AR-15 rifle in a Washington County trailer, the suspect, just 2 feet away, took a step toward him and tried to stab him. “Anthony Gallo didn’t comply with my commands, and...
Dueling Pittsburgh Juneteenth celebrations spark controversy, criticism of Gainey
The longtime organizer of Pittsburgh’s most well-known Juneteenth festival harshly condemned Mayor Ed Gainey on Wednesday after learning that the city will not fund his event but will instead pay for a separate celebration of the federal holiday by a different promoter. The move marks a shift by Pittsburgh, which...
